Teachers’ strike will impact on schools across Pendle

The NUT is taking action on Tuesday which will affect the majority of Pendle schools.

Some schools will be completely closed, some partially and others operating on reduced timetables.

No teacher takes strike action lightly

Union

All NUT members working in local authority schools or academies will be eligible to take part in the strike and organisers believe that it will be well supported.

Sam Uddin, Lancashire NUT secretary said: “Teachers go into the profession to make a difference to children’s lives and to develop in them a love of learning.

“No teacher takes strike action lightly. Inadequate levels of funding, however, are having a negative effect on both children and teachers that cannot go unaddressed.

“According to the respected Institute of Fiscal Studies, schools are facing the worst funding cuts since the 1970s. This is impacting heavily on the choices and decisions that headteachers in Pendle and around the country have to make.

“We are already seeing an increase in class sizes, a reduction in subject choices for children, less materials and books in classrooms and cuts to school trips.

“Teachers and support staff are being cut or not replaced meaning less individual attention for children. If inflation rises following the EU referendum, then schools will be forced to contend with even larger real term cuts.

“On top of the funding cuts, the break up of the national system of terms and conditions for teachers is a complete distraction for headteachers. Instead of focusing on teaching and learning they will have to spend huge amounts of time negotiating teacher contracts.

“Schools need funding to a level where every child is guaranteed an education they deserve, and are taught by qualified teachers that schools can afford to employ.

“Academies should have regard to national terms and conditions for teachers. Parents, children, teachers and the general public expect this of our education system. This should be within every government’s grasp to guarantee. We urge Nicky Morgan to listen.”